I Need Some Advice/Help

Hey All U D/Cers Out There~~ As most of you D/Cers know, that I'm a complete vegan, I consume nothing "illegal" as far as the old diabetic foods go (including all forms of fruit) but one thing that I just don't get. Why is it for the past couple of weeks, when I wake up in the morning, roll over and grab the old meter take the old b/s it read 500 or higher. This is something that I just don't get. And the last bit of food that I put into my mouth is @ 6pm. Nothing but black (regular only) coffee unsweetened iced tea, or water. So I cannot figure out why my a.m reading (fasting) is @ a 500 or higher. Can NE1 out there in D/C land offer me any kind of advice & or help. It will be GR8ly appreciated. (I exercise 6 days a week, 3 hrs a day)

51 replies

Hello Annalease. Just got this in my inbox today from dLife. It explains why the highs occur but not many suggestions as to lowering them. Bummer. But here is the site address if you still want to look at it.http://www.dlife.com/dlife_media/diabetes_sli...

If you are still experiencing these kinds of highs though, I suggest lots of water. As much as your body can handle in a short time frame. Sure you'll be peeing every 30 minutes or so, but it worked for me every time when I couldn't exercise.

Hey thanx Pcyoung. I drink (approx) 3-5gals of water a day, and yes, I do pee like a racehorse, and (unfortunately) had to cut down on my workouts. (BUMMER!! :{) but alais, my #'s are still elevating. I guess this is the life of a 16 year non insulin dependent diabetic. :{

I am rather new to the diabetic game (little over a year now) but my uncle has fought it for many many years. His suggestion is to add small amounts of those "illegal foods" to his lunch meal. He says the human body requires some of the "bad" foods to help regulate the body chemistry. He is in no way a doctor, but after 20+ years of dealing with diabetes, I believe him.

You defiantly want to consult a doctor, but ask if this idea might help.

Your medicine may be off kilter. You may need to eat some protein later in the evening. Being vegan the sources of protein minus the Carbs is harder to find. You mentioned staying away from fruit. I would be interested in what do you eat? How do you count your carbs? I would love the education.

U know pixidust, ur right about the meds. I need more of them. Or stronger dosages of the same meds. How I count my carbs, is super easy. I don't consume any!! I stay away from fruit because it sky rockets my b/s. I eat nothing but veggies. I get my protein from soy based products. (ex. tofu) so I stir fry a lot,using the secret ingredient.( :>) So basically pixidust, the only small amt of carbs (or protein) that I eat is the tofu. I'm sure my menu sounds so unappetizing to many,(or not healthy) but it suits me just fine. (I got a list of carbs from an online site.) Wish I could remember the name of that site, but it was such a long time ago, that, I just can't remember. If I do remember, I'll let you & evry1 on this site know. Its just that this old brain, has already retired 4 the nite.

Veggies have Carbs. Do you avoid potatoes, corn and peas then or eat limited amounts? I could never be a vegan because I love dairy products but need to eat more in your direction. The idea of cooking with Tofu sounds appealing. Do you have a best worst veggie list? Did you lose weight on this way of eating or were you a person without that need? I need to lose 70 pounds so that why I ask! Thanks for bearing with the ???'s

you need to give your doc a call and give the receptiionist your last 4 days of readings specifying this am reading has been lasting 2 weeks. The change may be done ovr the phone. Usually the docs make their calls after office hrs.

I know that the docs do return all calls after hrs. if you either belong to a ppo or a private MD. However, I belong to an HMO, which means they either call you when they get a chance, send you an email. (at Kaiser which is where I belong) they don't have receptionist. So, since I have an appt. in a couple of weeks then I'll see what the he wants me to do. All I can say is that I cannot be put on insulin. It plummets my sugars to the point where I know the paramedics on a 1st name basis.

I've read the posts here and see you insist it is not you liver dumping… and if you have not changed your diet in any way and your meter is working fine, then i would suggest getting on the phone and making a dr. appt. Something is going on and we are not doctors, but it sounds like something is going on in your system and you probably should not wait to see you dr. Good luck

Seems like you're getting advice from all over the map. It can be frustrating. Do what you feel is right for you, but please speak to your doctors. When I was first diagnosed a couple of months ago, my levels were consistantly in the 300s to 400s. But with time (within a few weeks) and adjustments to my meds I am now leaning towards normal a little more regularly. It is all trial and error but I am certain you will get your levels back under control. :)

Okay. If what you are saying is that it is 500+ only in the mornings then drops down to normal for the rest of the day then my advice would be to drink plenty of water. My doc told me to consume as much as I could handle when I used to get highs. Exercise will drop your levels but it would not be a good idea when they are through the roof like that.

Other than that, it sounds like you are doing the right thing as far as diet and exercise are concerned. It may just be what you are eating during your final meal of the day or when your final meal is. If I don't eat something an hour or so before bed my levels are in the mid 200s in the a.m. This might be what is happening to you.

Yes, that was where I was going. Prevent it from spiking by giving yourself some food to work on overnight. Since you say you don't get back to normal, it also sounds like you have several dumps per day or burning too quickly. Take a good look at your food intake. It really sounds as if you're not getting enough for the amount of exercise you do. Also, age is a huge factor. It seems like things just happen overnight - 16 years ago your body may have been able to handle it differently.

That's not good and I am so sorry to hear that. Schedule an appointment with your PCP, as well as, your endo doc asap and voice your concerns with them. They should be able to better better advise you of your situation. Ask for a recommendation for a nutritionist as well.

I was a vegetarian for 2 years, and my blood sugars skyrocketed then…into the 400s a lot…I ate zero meat, and had desert only once a month, and I walked 6 days a week…the weird thing is is that when I went back to McDonalds and meat and potatoes, I went back to more moderately high numbers…I have very little idea why…part if it was that I ate a lot of pineapple as a vegatarian and lot of broccoli and celery…I wonder if the same thing is happening to you…ANNE

annalease, I know that it's frustrating to try to figure out blood sugars that are off, but we're really trying to help. What I've been trying to say is I think your blood sugar might be dropping WHILE you are sleeping, and that is the cause of the 500+ readings. When your blood sugar drops to low levels and you aren't awake to correct it, your liver puts out sugar to correct it for you. So it might be worth a try to see if a small bedtime snack helps your morning sugars.

Sounds like liver dump to me also. I experienced this early on and learned I have to have some form of late evening snack (right up to the very last hour if fasting). Eating last at 6:00 p.m., you may be going without food for 12 hours (if you get up at 6:00 a.m.). Your body thinks you’re trying to starve it. With your exercise routine, your liver has learned to store a good deal to prevent this. It also sounds as if you’re “carb shy” - not enough in you to sustain you during sleep. I understand vegans shun carbs, but your body does need some. A handful or two of unsalted nuts before bed maybe? Only 6 carbs!In me it wasn’t a regular occurrence - hit and miss. It did get better if I took a vitamin at night, and went away once I fell into my diet routine. Your mileage may vary.Here’s another link but remember, this is the internet.http://www.medkb.com/Uwe/Forum.aspx/diabetes-...

i was told I had to eat something within 30 mins of sleep or I would drop and spike during the night. I am not sure if this is what is happening to you. My doctor called it stress liver dumping. When you are sleeping your body does not get food so it compensates by dumping glucose.

No Heather, it's not what's happening to me. When I wake up in the morning, and I take my b/s it's 500+upon arising and B4 I even had my 1st cup of coffee. So it is not what you guys call "liver dumping" (whatever the hell that is). It's 500+ @ the VERY 1st accu-check of the day.

In fact that it is the fasting reading of the day strongly suggests that it may well be. Your body has been without food for about 8 to12 hrs.

I had problems with that earlier in my life with diabetes, and I asked my Primary Dr at the time what was happening. He suggested I take my BG reading just before retiring for the night. If it was below 130 he suggested I eat something with protein in it and also have it with a complex carbodydrate.

I followed his suggestion and I no longer have that problem of high readings upon arising.

I'll try it 2nite J~A~B!! Thanks for being so in tune w/all this stuff. You R definitely my go to guy, when I don't know what's up or down. Or what's going on in this world we all call the diabetic hell hole. (Please EXCUSE my language. I know that we have all sorts of ages as well as all sorts of folks that don't have a potty mouth like me.) Sorry!!

I wouldn't call you a potty "mouth" lisa! I have been around folks (men and women) who use the f- word and use some rather crude, vulgar terms for gender related body parts (if you catch my drift — trying to keep it G rated)

In fact I find it kinda fun to use G-rated language to express what is generally expressed in vulgar terms.

No need to be sorry! " diabetic hell hole" is rather mild language to that to which I am accustomed. I would rate it as "PG' rating.

I am not super familiar with Type 2 and how it is controlled/reacts to things, but I know when I have high a.m. readings, it is usually because of an undetected early morning low, for which my liver over-compensates. So maybe?????

Dear RebC…what numbers are a high a.m. reading? What should a normal a.m. reading be? I have no idea what u guys are talking about here because my dr never took the time to explain it all to me. Nice huh?…Thanks, Sharon

Yep, pcyoung38 is right. My doc told me a little differently, to aim for 80-120. So anything above, say…150…is what I would count as "high" and needing a correction. Usually when my liver dumps, though, I get a lot higher readings, like 300 range. That's how I know that it wasn't simply something I ate the night before that usually only cause a moderate high.

From what I was told, most fasting (a.m.) numbers should be in between 90 to 130. I am still struggling to get mine to remain consistant within those ranges. If I were you, I would do some research about D on your own, as well as, continue to ask questions here. That way, when it is time for your next appt you can discuss what you have learned with your doc and ask him/her to answer any question about whatever is still unclear.

Thank you pcyoung38. I've been printing stuff out from the internet all day today and gonna shove them in my dr.'s face next time I see her. I want some answers from her. She should have checked me more often after being a patient of hers for 16 years. Always for cholesterol. Never sugar. If I had found out about my diabetes sooner maybe I could have stopped the neuropathy in my feet from happening. Thanks, Sharon

Good for you. It is important that you are always proactive and upfront with your doc. Unfortunately, as you may find out in reading more posts, most docs don't seem to get what we are going through, unless they themselves are livng with diabetes too. Sixteens years with the same doc is great (I'm sure the trust and comfortability factor is huge) but if he/she isn't giving you what you need at this point, it may be wise to find another one. In the meantime, gather all info that is relevant to you, ask your doc as many question as necessary and make sure they are answered to your satisfaction.

thank you for the welcome. My family dosen't realize how dangerous diabetes can be and make fun of the "stuff" I have to eat. My grandmother's 2 sisters had it and one of them ended up having her foot amputated due to infection. It seems to have skipped over my grandmother and mother and hit me. My mother can eat all the sugary junk she wants to while I watch her and practically drool and every morning I take her sugar too just for the heck of it with mine and she is always 95. I guess I'm the "lucky" one. Thanks again for the welcome, Sharon

No,no,no, guys,guy,guys~~ My b/s is at a 500+ when I wake up in the morning. That's why I figured if I stopped consuming food @ 6pm, then my b/s would not be so high come morning. But w/no such luck, my b/s is @ a whopping 500+ every morning for quite a while now. Believe me when I say I know what 2 do when my b/s drops drastically. I don't know what 2 do when I wake up and take it, & it's 500+.

We believe you that you know how to handle it when you are awake, but when you are asleep it's a completely different story. That's usually the only reason my b/s is ever that high in the morning, is a middle-of-the-night low.